—o n c e m o r e w i t h f e e l i n g—⁣
Tell me your favorite musical (theater or movie). ⁣
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Boybands and pop stars. Theater camp. Broadway production. Two timelines. Second chance romance. Proper appreciation for Grease 2. This book has it all. ⁣
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Once More with Feeling is the latest from Elissa Sussman (author of one of my fave romances, Funny You Should Ask). The book follows Kathleen, fallen-from-grace 00s pop star as she is given a second chance at success and maybe love? ⁣
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I really enjoyed the multiple timelines here and the insider take on Broadway productions was fun for this self-identified theater nerd. I love Sussman’s storytelling and use of media in her books. I found the romance less compelling and the leads, Kathleen and Cal, less likable than Chani and Gabe from her previous book. I liked the friendship storyline though. ⁣
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A solid and enjoyable romance. For pop culture and Broadway lovers, this is a fun choice. ⁣
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Thanks @netgalley and @ballantinebooks for the chance to read. This one is out now! ⁣
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#bookreview

I love this book! The premise, the characters, all amazing. My one very small complaint was what I will call (for spoilers sake) the blip towards the end, before the very end. Not the biggest fan when a book does this, but the book was amazing altogether I love Elissa Sussman

“You’ve always done your best work in front of an audience…”

So good. For me this book was idyllic and sweet even though the main character Kathleen Rosenberg could sometimes rub me the wrong way. She is a former pop star that lost her fame suddenly and is trying to make a comeback in a Broadway musical written by her best friend. The director is none other than Calvin Tyler Kirby who knows Kathleen from their days of summer music camp. Cal also played a role in the demise of her career.

This enemies to lovers, second chance romance is smart, fun, and full of emotion. I enjoyed the story being told in “then” and “now” chapters because it gave us an understanding of what these characters have been through. Fame is fickle, friendships are tested, and first love never leaves the space it creates in our heart.

Once More with Feeling is the perfect escape into summer camp, the love of musicals, the infatuation with boy bands, first love, and the journey your life takes when things don’t always work out the way you planned. But most importantly this story conveys the message to never give up on your dreams. Such an entertaining book. (And the last chapter aka “Finale” made my romance loving heart burst!)

thank you netgalley for the eARC of this book!

this book's premise intrigued right from the beginning, seeing as it combines a second chance romance with musical theater and pop star drama which like I just found so interesting. the story is told in dual timelines, switching between past and present, as we see the relationship between kathleen and cal unfold over the years. going from childhood friends to lovers but then enemies to eventual lovers was such a rollercoaster but I thought the overall plotline was definitely intriguing.

however, there were some parts of the story that fell a bit flat for me. while I love a second chance romance, I hoped for a bit for development in their relationship. there were simply some points where I was no longer rooting for them as a couple and was not as invested in the outcome anymore. additionally, I would have liked to see more of the past timeline as I found those scenes brought across much more feeling. also the fact that this book contained the cheating trope immediately made me dock a star because it always frustrates me. I will say though that the way that specific trope was addressed was well done because while I think that cheating is unexcusable, characters and people are bound to mistakes but should also learn from them and should not always have to carry that blame. the whole discussion around how the media treated her as a result was super interesting and well written.

overall, this was a fun and quick read about two people who find their way back to each other but it simply wasn't a top read of the year as I did not feel as connected to the characters as I had hoped.

3.5/5 I'm not a big fan of second-chance romance, but this book really captivated me from the start. Although I was interested in the romance, it just felt meh and I didn't enjoy this book as much as Funny You Should Ask. I'll still keep reading Elissa Sussman's next books, but I'll keep my expectations lower. Thank you to Netgalley and PRH for this advanced digital copy!!

I wanted to love this one because I loved Funny you should ask. But I ended up hating this one. I think it's because I'm not a huge fan of rom coms that involve cheating. Plus Kathleen was not a likeable character at least to me. I was more interested in Harriet and when I like a side character more than the heroine I know I'm not going to like the book, and I'm going to be wishing for the side characters story.

Even though I didn't like the heroine and the storyline, I did find the story well written and the musical genius.

Once More With Feeling
By: Elissa Sussman
Thank you @randomhouse for the early review copy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Then: Katee Rose is in the height of her career as a popular musical artist when her world comes crashing down. Turns out, when you cheat on your douche-y boyfriend with one of his band members (that you’ve known and maybe had a crush on since you were a kid) people kinda don’t like you.

Now: Kathleen (formerly Katee) has come out of hibernation to star in her best friends Broadway show. One problem- it’s being directed by the one and only Cal. Who is-you guessed it- the guy who broke her heart all those years ago when her life imploded.

I really enjoy Sussmans storytelling. The alternating timeline of then vs now worked well for me here. I enjoyed that aspect as well in her previous book, Funny You Should Ask (that I also loved!). If you aren’t a fan of miscommunication then this story isn’t for you. Oftentimes children/teens growing up in the industry lack emotional maturity even as adults as a result of the their wildly glamorized lifestyle. I thought that this book explored the way that the entertainment industry can manipulate and isolate young people and that was more how I read the “miscommunication” in this case. Overall, I really liked it!

a cute and charming musical romcom that was delightful.

thank you to netgalley and to the publisher for this review copy.

Once More with Feeling by Elissa Sussman

Synopsis:
Then - Katee Rose is America's number one pop star dating the hottest member of boy band CrushZone, Ryan LaNeve. Katee loves to perform (cue Applause by Lady Gaga) but hates the demands of stardom. Cal Kirby is another member of CrushZone who has been a good friend to Katee. One unforgettable night with Cal destroys her relationship with Ryan, her career, and life.

Now - Kathleen Rosenberg has been out of the spotlight since her life exploded. She has been living a normal life until she gets the opportunity to fulfill her dreams: a starring role in a Broadway show. The catch is ... Cal is the director, and they haven't spoken since the incident. Kathleen agrees to join the cast but is keeping her guard up around grownup Cal. Has their chemistry died like their careers, or is there a flicker of light for these two? What led up to that night?

Thoughts:
It is a similar formula to their first book, but the characters and story are unique. I was getting Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake early 2000s vibes between Katee and her boyfriend Ryan. I like how the characters had real problems even though they were famous. I loved that this was a love letter about Sussman's love of Broadway and theatre. I was entertained until the last page!

I would recommend to readers who like second chance romance with celebrities and a comeback story. It is a single POV that jumps between the past and present day. If you enjoyed their first book, Funny You Should Ask, then you will probably enjoy this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for sending me a free ARC for an honest review.

A fun second-chance, enemies-to-lovers romance. I flew through this one and really like the author’s writing style.

You don’t have to be a theater nerd to love this romcom! Especially if you’re a 90’s kid, this book is for you. The FMC and MMC went to an arts camp together in their teen years - all we know at the start is that there was a falling out that ruined the FMC’s career in early adulthood and now she has her second chance at fame starring in her best friend’s musical…which happens to be produced by the same man she had the falling out with in early adulthood. It’s messy and it’s fun. Would definitely recommend this second chance romance!

Elissa Sussman does it again! Funny You should Ask sucked me in last year and even on vacation I finished Once More with Feeling in less than a day.

What I loved: the depth at which this author goes to immerse you in the characters lives and their culture is astounding. Not being one to know anything about musical theater, I feel like I got a full education with this book. The book was reminiscent of growing up with 90s/00s Popstar-dom in such a way that it didn’t feel like a copy, but that it felt nostalgic.

What I didn’t love: there wasn’t much, if anything I feel like I lacked hearing Calvin’s side, his backstory and where he had been. The rendezvous with her ex felt a bit cheekier than need be, the “folded arm pout” sent me.

Overall I’m such a Sussman fan, thank you thank you for doing second chance lovers that reunite in their second act of life!

This is not a review I want the author to read.

This is not a review I want someone who loved this book to read.

The person I want to read this review is the editor. My message: Give notes again - but this time, with feeling.

Yes. I am cringing at myself. Don't worry.

This book read like Britney cheated on Justin with JC. Then, met up with him later and wowed Broadway together. Was this supposed to be BOP Fanfiction?

I didn't like a single character. The plot was well-paced. I appreciated the Then/Now timeline. While I love the predictability of an HEA - I could have told you the major plot points of this book after the first 10%.

It was probably my fault for requesting this book from NetGalley based on the author's last book (which is still on my shelf, unread), the clever title, and the cute cover. I should have dug deeper. Second-chance romance isn't my favorite, I also am not a huge musical theater lover.

It's not you, it's me? But, maybe, also you?

This book was a perfect Vacation read. this book is written in vignettes between past and present and Cal & Kathleen's friendship. This story felt realistic and though second chance romance hasn't always been my favorite this and Emily Henry's Happy Place are now moving that trope up higher.

Sussman creates a realistic, laugh out loud funny story of a former popstar feel relatable and keeps you rooting for her.

I DNFed this it was jsut super boring and I'm not going to make myself read this right now when I have thousands of other books I want to read.

Such a fun quick read! This is every high school choir kid/musical nerd’s dream book. I was captivated from the start and drawn into the story with the multi-flash back points between theater camp, height of the pop star career and ten years later trying to get a new Broadway show of the ground with the same core characters. The tension and conflict between the three main characters was palpable and I didn’t want to put it down.

Thank you for the eARC on NetGalley.

Fans of Elissa Sussman have not yet recovered from last year's Funny You Should Ask. In her new novel, teenage pop star Katee Rose has a life in the spotlight as she dates Ryan LaNeve, member of boy band CrushZone. They have a messy (and very public) breakup, and Katee fades from public life. Many years later, another member of CrushZone, Cal, hires Katee to be the lead in a Broadway musical, reigniting her career and possibly an old flame. The story is told in a dual timeline, with the past narrative taking place at a summer theater camp.

First of all, big thanks to Ballantine Books and Random House Publishing Group for gifting me with an ARC of this a few days before its release. It was a super highly anticipated read for me, and I'm so thankful you ended my misery a bit early!

Once More With Feeling is a solid, fun read, very much in the same vein as Sussman's first book (although I do think I prefer Funny You Should Ask).

As a theatre kid myself, and someone who works in the media, AND a New Yorker, I really hesitate before reading books in my world/s because it can be so cringe and awkward if the book gets it wrong... and honestly, NOT the escapism I usually crave, when done correctly. This book, gratefully, establishes its own world entirely. The cast of characters know each other in several different settings and periods of their lives — which is at times difficult to believe, but also messy in a believable way — so the story really revolves around their shared history moreso than the camp / pop star / Y2K / Broadway storylines. Those environments are always a backdrop, with the love story and relationships between the characters being the focus.

This book is not as inventive or satisfyingly analytical as Sussman's first book, although there are lines and notes of deeper meaning that I wish she had explored more. There was so many opportunities for this story to reflect on how the media mistreated women in pop culture, specifically in the 90s / Y2K. I was thinking this book would go there, that we could talk about how the MC is a psuedo Britney figure, but I just felt like the way it was addressed still left me trying to untangle and unpack myself. It still felt so messy. And like... are we not going to talk about the jealousy, pettiness, and cruelty between the story's women? I'm not asking for a "we should all be friends" / "women supporting women" friendship bracelet making moment... but it just shocked me that characters like Rachel could still be written so flat!? She could have been so many other things to the story, and instead, she just felt like the most stereotypical mean girl character come to life. I wanted her to be Regina George or Vivian Kinsington or Sharpay or Rizzo, but she was just a slutty villain for the sake of being a slutty villain. Yuck.

My biggest gripe with the book is Harriet's storyline, though. It felt like she was just kind of there to generate conflict with the MC. They have this one conversation where Harriet goes in wanting one thing and by the end of the conversation, wants the complete opposite. Honestly, I wasn't sold that she was a great friend to Katherine. In fact, she was kind of shitty to her at times. And Katherine too her! I'm not saying we need to write flawless female friendships, because the way they navigate their jealousy with eachother is lowkey #realistic and #relatable. It's moreso the way that they confront their issues has major plot holes, discredits my belief in their friendship as a reader, and is just not resolved in the end. Do we really have to do the gay characters this dirty?!

I'm making this book sound bad. It's not bad. I've just read a lot of similar books recently and this is not my favorite of the bunch. It has potential. Maybe I was just expecting something more reflective and depthier than I got. And you know, it's not fair of me to expect a feminist masterpiece from every rom-com I read. But, I guess given the subject matter AND THE PLOT OF THE MUSICAL AT ITS CORE, I just felt it didn't deliver the media-narrative-shattering, badass, powerful, fun, epic story I was for some reason expecting. And that's ok.

This book is fun. I love the little musical theatre inside jokes. I ship the main couple. I had fun. I honestly feel bad giving it a 3, but I can't quite give it a 4. Definitely will still rec Funny You Should Ask, but again... this one isn't a fave.

Once More With Feeling, Elissa Sussman (5/30/23)

I wanted to like this book, but I found the lead characters to be unlikeable throughout most of the book. Unfortunately, I am the type of reader that needs at least one likeable character that I can cheer for so Once More with Feeling became a struggle for me to finish. However, I did find the book to be well-written and is a good example of the lovers have a misunderstanding/fight and after an extended period of time meet again in a will they wouldn't they scenario.

Thanks to Net Galley and Ballantine for this book.

This might be a controversial opinion, but I liked this even more than "Funny You Should Ask" -- I think it built on the success of the first one in a way that really worked for me. And, being a sucker for a second-chance romance, this played right into my interest. I loved the idea of a pop singer and a boy band singer re-connecting, which is basically just bait for millennials who grew up loving Britney Spears and NSYNC.